Metal sheet-piling.



PATENTED MAY 19, 1908.

R; B. WOODWORTH, METAL SHEET PILING.

APPLICATION IILBD DBGA, 1907.

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ROBERT B. WOODWORTH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ME TAL SHEE T-PILING.

Application filed. December 4;,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1908.

1907. Serial No. 405,036.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT B. Wool)- WORTH, of Pittsburg, Alleghenycounty, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Metal Sheet-Pd ing, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is aplan view showing a series of channel-beams constructed in accordancewith my invention, as they are assembled in forming the sheet piling;Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same showing the interlocking membersof the piling in place upon the channel-beams employed in constructingthe piling; Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing a single beammember provided with interlocking means in accordance with my invention.

The invention relates to metal sheet piling employed in constructingretaining walls for excavations, foundations, piers and in formingcaissons, bulkheads, docks, wharves and similar structures used insubmarine work, and it particularly relates to metal sheet piling whichis built up from rolled structural shapes.

In interlocking sheet piling fabricatedfrom rolled metal shapes, thereis considerable clearance necessarily present between the interlockingedges of the adjacent members in order to overcome irregularities inshopwork and to revent sticking or undue friction when driving thepiles. Where the interlock is formed on each edge of alternate sectionsof piling, the alternate sections are of different cross sections, andthe compressive strength of all sections is not-uniform. With sheetpiling in which the interlocking members are formed on one horizontaledge of each section, the piling is not held in perfect alinement, andthe blows of the hammer employed in driving the iles is uniformlydistributed over the pile and is frequently the cause of crippling orbuckling of the pile being driven which necessitates the withdrawal ofthe pile being driven together with the adjoining driven pile with whichit is interlocked.

The object of my invention is to provide an im roved metal sheet pilingformed from rol ed metal shapes in such manner that the above mentioneddisadvantages are overcome and the dilliculties experienced in drivingsuch piling are very largely overcome and prevented.

The invention consists in providing a metal sheet piling in which theseparate members are of uniform weight and of symmetrical cross section,and in which improved interlocking means are provided by which thepiling is better kept in alinement and by which the blow of thepile-driving hammer is equally and uniformly distributed to both sidesof the sections of piling.

In the drawings, 2 represents the channelbeams forming the piling, theflanges on these beams being turned in opposite directions on alternatesections and theflanged edges of adjoining sections overlapping, as isshown in Fig. 1. One longitudinal edge of each section 2 is providedwith a Zbar 3, which forms the interlock, this Z-bar extendingsubstantially the whole length of the channel-beam. On the opposite edgeof said channel section is a shorter Z-bar 4, forming a supplementalinterlock by which the alinement of the piling structure is bettermaintained. The Z-bars 4 are comparatively short, and are preferablysecured to the upper ends of each section with the end of the Z-barflush with the end of the channelbeani, so as to receive and transmitthe blow of the pile driver hammer to the one edge of the channel-beamand cause the impact of the hammer to be uniformly distributed.

Each section 2 of the j'iiling is provided with open holes 5 which areemployed in withdrawing the piling after being driven when such pilingis removed from the ground.

It will be noted that the short interlocking member 4 and the longinterlocking member 3 are on opposite edges of the sections on alternatechannel sections, so as to make alternate members left hand and righthand.

In driving the separate sections forming the sheet piling, the firstchannel-beam is driven into the ground until it has reached the desireddepth. The second section, which is right or left hand, as is required,is

then placed in position to be driven, the Z-bars forming the interlockholding the channels in line. As the hammer of the pile driver strikesthe top of the pile being driven, the impact is distributed equally overthe entire section of the beam, the short Z-bar receiving its part ofthe blows and transmitting it to the edge of the beam on Which the Z-bar4 is secured.

The above described operation is repeated With successive pilingsections, until the de sired amount of sheeting has been formed. Thepiling may be driven so as to form a single Wall or in such manner asWill form a rectangular or circular inclosure as is desired, suitablecorner connections being provided Where it is necessary to have a rightangled turn in the inclosure.

The advantages of my invention Will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art. By the use of a single 'Z-bar on each channelbeam Which extendsits full length, the sections of the piling are of equal strength, Whilethe compressive strength of each beam section is increased and liabilityof bending or buckling in driving is greatly lessened and overcome. Theshort sections of Z-bar assist in keeping the piling in alinement, Whileby making the top edges of the Z-bar flush With the channel-beams, theimpact of the driving hammer is equally distributed over thechannel-beam sections.

Variations in the arrangement and location of the parts may be madeWithout departing from my invention.

I claim:

1. In a sheet metal piling, a piling section of channel form having atone edge a Z-bar secured thereto and extending substantially the fulllength of the section and at its opposite edge a relatively short Z-bar,substantially as described.

2. In a sheet metal piling, a piling section of channel form having atone edge a Z-bar secured thereto and extending substantially the fulllength of the section and at its opposite edge a relatively short Z-bar,one end of the short Z-bar being flush With the top of the pilingsection, substantially as described.

3. Metal sheet piling composed of a series of channel-beams disposedalternately and interlocked along their flanged edges and beams havingsingle Z-bars forming a continuous interlocking member and short Z-barsholding the channel-beams in regular alinernent, substantially asdescribed.

4. Metal sheet piling having a series of alternately disposedchannel-beams With overlapping flanged edges, an interlocking Z-barsecured to one edge of the beams and extending substantially the fulllength of the channel-beams, and a supplemental interlocking Z-bar onthe opposite edge of the beam section, said supplemental 2-bar extendingfor a part of the length of the beam sections, substantially asdescribed.

5. Metal sheet piling having a series of alternately disposed channelbeams With overlapping flanged edges, an interlocking Zbar secured toone edge of the beams and extending substantially the full length of thechannel-beams, and a supplemental interlocking Z-bar on the oppositeedge of the beam sections, said supplemental Z-bar extending for a partof the length of the beam sections, and having its top end flush withthe top of the channel beams, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT B. NOODWVORTH. W'itnesses:

GEO. W. RITOHEY, WM. BREEDEN.

